Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Statham Grove Surgery on 25 February 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.
Specifically, we found the practice to be good for providing, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services. The practice required improvement for providing safe services. It was also good for providing services for older people, people with long term-conditions, families, children and young people, the working age people (including those recently retired and students), people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable and people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).
Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:
- Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
- Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, with the exception of those relating to storing medicines.
- Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.
- Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
- Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
- Patients said there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
- The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
- There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.
Importantly the provider must:
- Ensure the secure storage of GP home visit bags.
Action the provider SHOULD take to improve:
- Maintain cleaning schedules to evidence the cleaning of the patient toilet and toys for children at the practice.
- Keep a register for vulnerable adults.
Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)
Chief Inspector of General Practice